Installation of LED lamp in the lamp. LED ceiling lights: how to choose? Replacement of LED lamps - inexpensive, fast, high quality

During the repair of the hallway, the question arose about the choice of ceiling lights. I didn’t have to choose the type of ceiling, since I had experience working with stretch ceilings. A stretch ceiling made of PVC film was chosen. I had to think about which lamp to install on the ceiling. I wanted to have modern beautiful lamps, and at the same time I didn’t want to part with the homemade chandelier and sconces that hung in the hallway.

The choice has been made. The chandelier and sconces remained hanging on the ceiling in the hallway, but in the corridor I decided to purchase spotlights, since a single-lamp hung on the wall. Before mounting the stretch ceiling, you should stretch the wires. To do this, you need to make a drawing of the electrical circuit, which includes the number of lamps, the type of light bulbs, their power.

Selecting the type of bulb for a recessed ceiling light

To date, 4 types of lamps have become widespread:

• Incandescent;
• LED;
• Halogen;
• Compact (energy saving).

Each type has both positive and negative sides. In addition, when choosing lamps, one should take into account their parameters, such as the distance between the fixed and suspended ceilings. From the table below you can find out the characteristics of the lamps, choose the one you need for your ceiling.

Table for selecting the type of bulbs for recessed ceiling luminaires
Technical specifications	Lamp type
	incandescent	Halogen	energy saving	LED
Minimum distance between main and suspended ceilings*, cm	10-12	5-6	10-12	5-6
Supply voltage, V	220	12, 220	220	12, 220
Luminous flux*, Lm/W	10-15	15-20	50-70	80-120
Maximum power*, W	40	40	40	7
Color temperature, °K	2700	3000	2700, 3300, 4200, 5100, 6400	2700, 3300, 4200, 5100
Service life*, hour	1000	4000	8000	70000
Price	Very low	Low	Medium	High

Specifications may differ from those in the table. It depends on the type of lamp, design, type of ceiling. For example, there are ceilings that are afraid of heating more than 60 degrees. This limits the choice of lamp.

Halogen lamps are afraid of voltage drops, so they often burn out. They are designed for both 12 V and 220 V. Lamps operating at 12 V require a step-down transformer, a power supply. Therefore, when installing such lamps, do not forget about the space in the wall or ceiling for its installation.

Calculation of power and number of fixtures

When choosing the power of the lamp, you should take into account the size of the room, the color of the furniture. Choose a lamp should be based on their taste. With the help of the table, you can find out how much power the fixtures will need. Calculations were made based on the values ​​of the luminous flux, the type of lamp.

Table for calculating the power and number of fixtures depending on the type of room
Room type	The power required to illuminate 1m 2 of the area of ​​​​the room depending on lamp type
	incandescent	Halogen	energy saving	LED
Children's	40	30	10	5
Kitchen	30	25	7	4
Living room, bathroom, toilet	25	20	6	3
Bedroom, hallway, corridor	20	15	5	2
Utility rooms	10	7	2	1

It was planned to install spotlights in the corridor. Here are the calculations that were made.

The corridor looks like the letter T. The plot area is 4.5 m 2, 2.8 m 2. The total area is 7.3 m 2. The required power of the fixtures should be 15.6 W (7.3 × 2). The height of the ceilings in the room is 2.75 m. It was planned to paint the walls in the color of creme brulee. Since the corridor has a complex shape, it is necessary to install 4 lamps, the lamps of which will have a power with a margin of 5, W. Power supply 220 V, pin base GU5.3. Such a plinth is popular due to its small dimensions, which allows it to be installed at a low height of the interceiling space.

The walls of the corridor were decorated with paintings that were planned to remain after the renovation. Based on this, I chose white lamps with a color temperature of 4000 K. If you want to achieve a warm light, lamps with a color temperature of 2700 K will suit you. Note that room lighting does not always have to consist of ceiling lights. It is better to reduce the power of the lamps and place a couple of wall-mounted ones on the wall.

If there is local lighting, then the ceiling can be illuminated with LED strip. Everything is limited by your imagination.

The choice of wire for wiring spotlights

To power 4 lamps, any wire that has double insulation will do. It is better to choose a copper double connecting wire that has many strands. For example, PVA 2 * 0.75. The cross section will not play a big role, since the current will not exceed 0.1 A. If 12 V halogen lamps are used, then the wire cross section must be calculated. One lamp with a power of 60 W consumes a current of 5 A.

Selection and installation of a recessed spot ceiling lamp

On the shelves of shops you can find a lot of lamps. But they all have the same design and differ only in appearance. Some models have the function of changing the direction of the light flux.

Since I need to illuminate the corridor, the simplest lamps with a base cartridge were chosen.

Each luminaire has a body that looks like a figured ring, and platforms with lugs for mounting under springs. Its shape depends on the type and power of the lamp, as well as the presence or absence of a cartridge (usually E14).

A separate niche is occupied by lamps, the LEDs of which are placed on a printed circuit board.

If it fails, the light bulb cannot be replaced. You will either have to change the entire lamp, or look for LEDs. Yes, and its price is not too small. Lamps that do not have a cartridge press the lamp with a spring in the form of a cut ring.

The lamp is inserted due to the fact that the ring is unclenched and enters the groove located in the housing. This lamp is suitable for both LED and halogen lamps. Just do not forget about the supply voltage that the lamps can withstand. To fix the lamp in the ceiling, it is necessary to make a hole at the location of the lamp, which will be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the housing flange.

The ears of the springs must be parted to such an extent that they pass into the hole made. Then they can be released. Leaning on the ceiling, they press the luminaire against the flange until it stops, which allows the luminaire to be fixed.

After fixing the lamp in the ceiling, we pass the wire and connect the cartridge with the terminal block. The cartridge must be put on the base, the lamp must be inserted into the lamp body and, having opened the spring, fix it.

Wiring diagram for spot ceiling lights

Before installing the ceiling, attention should be paid to the choice of the type of lamps, the number of lamps, their location, and the choice of power. To do this, you need to develop an electrical circuit. During its development, the method of attaching the wires to each other and the points at which these wires are connected are taken into account.

Since wires came out of the wall on which the lamp was located, they will be used to mount ceiling lamps. Since there will be no access to the wires after installing the stretch ceiling, they must be fastened in a reliable way. I settled on twisting with soldering with tin-lead solder. These points are marked on the diagram.

If you plan to place such lamps in a room where a computer or TV is located, you need to consider that the angle of incidence of the beam on the surface is equal to the angle of reflection. Therefore, such lamps cannot be placed above the equipment, as there will be a reflection from the monitor. Before planning the lamp, you need to consider the arrangement of furniture and appliances in the room.

If the lamps are powered by a voltage of 220 V, no additional equipment is required, but if they need 12 V, then it should be noted that a place must be made for the power supply of these lamps, which will have free access for maintenance.

Installation of electrical wiring for connecting spot ceiling lights

After purchasing all the necessary fixtures and wires, you can get to work.

Electrical wiring can be installed at any stage of repair work. Even before installing a stretch ceiling. During the repair of the walls, the light turned out to be dim. I had to connect temporary cartridges into which energy-saving lamps were screwed.

Before installing the wires, select and mark the location of the fixtures. The photo is marked with circles. To prevent sagging wires, fasten them at intervals of 40 - 50 cm.

To fix the wires, you can use a dowel - clamps (left photo) or nail clips (right), which have different sizes. If the installation will be done with a dowel - with a clamp, drill a hole in the wall, put on the clamp and hammer the dowel into the wall. To secure the wire with a nail clip, press the wire against the wall and hammer in the nail. This installation is suitable for attaching the wire to plaster, wood, plastic.

Nail clips are bad because the nail can fall out and the wire will lie on the ceiling. This mount was immediately thrown aside. The collars were not at home. Therefore, I used the easiest method, which is based on fixing the wire to the wall with a PVC tube clamp. To do this, drill a hole in the ceiling, hammer in the dowel. We wrap the tube around the wire and fasten it with any self-tapping screw.

Making a wiring harness for ceiling spotlights

After installing the ceiling, access to the wiring will be limited. Therefore, the connection of the wires to each other must be carried out with high quality. Most often, the wires are connected with a terminal block, say "Wago". However, the most reliable method is soldering. I applied it.

To minimize work under the ceiling, the harness was made in advance. It only remains to be attached to the ceiling and connected to the main wiring. To find out the length of the wires, it is necessary to make measurements between the places where the fixtures are attached. The results of the measurements were entered into the wiring diagram, which was the wiring diagram.

The bundle was made of stranded wires with double insulation. The core in such a wire is covered with PVC, entwined with a thread. To make it convenient to carry out the work, the wires were twisted into a pigtail.

First of all, the insulation was removed from the wires, which allowed the wires to be irradiated with solder. The second compartment of the corridor implies a branching of the wires, so they were twisted and soldered. To increase the reliability of the insulation, the soldering points are shifted relative to each other.

Tubes are put on the soldering points, which prevent short circuits. To prevent their movement along the wires, they should be fixed with cambric. It was possible to insulate the soldering points with the help of insulation tape. In order not to confuse the wires, the cambric was marked with a marker. Part of the wire was located under the plaster. In this place, a PVC tube was put on.

The harness was attached to the ceiling. It's time to connect the wires to the main wiring. To do this, the wires coming out of the wall were trimmed with a shift. Since the wire is quite old, the wires are rough. In order not to damage them, the insulation was removed thermally, namely with a soldering iron. The cores were protected, tinned, then insulating tubes were put on.

Tubes are needed in order to protect a person from a short circuit. The wires will not be able to touch one another on their own.

The place where the connection was made is fastened with a clamp to the ceiling using a self-tapping screw. Everything, wiring is completed.

Temporary sockets are connected by terminal blocks, lamps are screwed in, it is possible to make repairs to the room.

Installation of a ceiling LED lamp on a PVC stretch ceiling

The technology described above is suitable for installing fixtures on a rigid structure, such as drywall or a slatted ceiling. If the luminaire is installed directly on the PVC ceiling, it is necessary to provide attachment points for the luminaires, otherwise the ceiling will sag under their weight.

For such purposes, special fittings are sold on the market. In the photo you can see the ramp, that is, the mount for the lamp. The platform is made in the form of a cone, on the surface of which there are steps.

In the photo you can see the final result of the repair of the ceiling, with ceiling lights installed in it.

When I decided to make repairs in the hallway, one of the first questions that arose was the question of choosing the type of ceiling finish and which ceiling lights to install. Having many years of experience in operating a stretch ceiling in the bathroom and living room made of PVC, it did not take long to choose the type of ceiling. I decided to install a PVC stretch ceiling, due to its many advantages, compared to other types of ceiling finishes.

I had to think a little about ceiling lights. On the one hand, I wanted to install modern LED spotlights on the ceiling, and on the other hand, in the hallway, there was a homemade set of chandelier and wall lamps, made by hand. I liked them, and I didn’t want to part with either the chandelier or the sconce.

In the end, a compromise solution was found, leaving the chandelier and sconces at the entrance to the hallway to hang in their original places, and in the hallway of the hallway, where a single-lamp lamp hung on the wall, install spotlights built into the stretch ceiling.

Before installing a stretch ceiling, it is necessary to lay electrical wiring, and in order to lay wires, it is necessary to develop an electrical circuit based on the type and number of fixtures, the type of light bulbs and their power.

Selecting the type of bulb for a recessed ceiling light

Before purchasing a luminaire built into a false ceiling, it is necessary to select the type of light bulbs and determine the required number of them, providing sufficient illumination of the room. Currently, four types of lamps are used for installation in ceiling recessed lamps: incandescent, halogen, compact (they are also called energy-saving or fluorescent lamps) and LED. Each type of light bulb has its own advantages and disadvantages, in addition, it affects the minimum distance between the installation horizon of a suspended ceiling and a stationary one, which is a determining factor in rooms with low ceilings.

Using the table below, you can easily make the best choice of the type of bulbs for a false ceiling, based on your requirements and boundary conditions.

Table for selecting the type of bulbs for recessed ceiling luminaires
Technical specifications	Lamp type
	incandescent	Halogen	energy saving	LED
Minimum distance between main and suspended ceilings*, cm	10-12	5-6	10-12	5-6
Supply voltage, V	220	12, 220	220	12, 220
Luminous flux*, Lm/W	10-15	15-20	50-70	80-120
Maximum power*, W	40	40	40	7
Color temperature, °K	2700	3000	2700, 3300, 4200, 5100, 6400	2700, 3300, 4200, 5100
Service life*, hour	1000	4000	8000	70000
Price	Very low	Low	Medium	High

Technical parameters marked with * may vary up or down depending on the design of the luminaire and light bulb, light bulb power, manufacturer, type of suspended ceiling. For example, PVC stretch ceilings are afraid of heating more than 60 ° C, and this limits the permissible power of light bulbs in recessed fixtures.

It should be noted that halogen lamps designed for a supply voltage of 12 V and 220 V are very sensitive to excess supply voltage and often burn out from this. For 12 V halogen lamps, a step-down transformer or power supply (adapter) is required, for which you must not forget, if you install a false ceiling without access to the interceiling space, provide a special place on the wall.

You can get more detailed information about incandescent and halogen, energy-saving, LED lamps by visiting the pages of the site dedicated to them.

Calculation of power and number of fixtures

The power of the lamps depends on the size of the room (area, height and shape), the color of the walls and furniture, the purpose of the room and the preferences of the owner. Someone likes bright light, and someone likes warm, diffused light of low brightness.

An accurate calculation of the power and number of fixtures, taking into account all factors, is almost impossible to perform. For an estimated calculation, you can use the illumination data presented in the table, thanks to which, taking into account the luminous flux, depending on the type of light bulb, you can determine how much and what power you need to install lamps in the room, depending on its type.

Table for calculating the power and number of fixtures depending on the type of room
Room type	The power required to illuminate 1m 2 of the area of ​​​​the room depending on lamp type
	incandescent	Halogen	energy saving	LED
Children's	40	30	10	5
Kitchen	30	25	7	4
Living room, bathroom, toilet	25	20	6	3
Bedroom, hallway, corridor	20	15	5	2
Utility rooms	10	7	2	1

Consider an example of a calculation that I did for the hallway corridor. It was planned to install LED ceiling spotlights. The shape of the corridor is the letter T with plot areas of 2.8 m 2 and 4.5 m 2 . The total area of ​​the corridor was 7.3 m 2 . Let's calculate the required power of the fixtures 7.3 × 2 = 15.6 W. Since the ceiling height was 2.75 m and the walls were planned to be painted in creme brulee color, taking into account the complex shape of the corridor, the best solution would be to install four ceiling spotlights with LED lamps installed in them with a small margin, 5.5 W, supply voltage 220 V with GU5.3 pin base. The pin base for suspended ceilings is good in that it has small dimensions, which is important with a small inter-ceiling space in height.

On the walls in the corridor before the renovation, there were pictures of artists, which were planned to be left in their original places after the renovation was completed. Therefore, for undistorted color reproduction, white light LED lamps with a color temperature of 4000 K were chosen. If you need a warm light, then you should choose a lamp with a color temperature of 2700 K.

It should be noted that it is not always advisable to use recessed ceiling lights in rooms as the only source of illumination. A much better result can be obtained by using additional wall lamps or table lamps in the work or leisure area. In this case, the power of the lamps in the ceiling lights can be reduced.

In the presence of local lighting fixtures, it is quite possible to completely abandon the fixtures built into the suspended ceiling, replacing them with LED strip lighting for the ceiling. So, when solving the issue of lighting the premises of the apartment, there is where to unfold creative imagination.

The choice of wire for wiring spotlights

For laying the power wiring of the four selected lamps with a total power of 22 W, any double-insulated electrical wire designed for laying electrical wiring is suitable. A copper stranded double connecting wire is best suited, for example, type PVA 2 × 0.75. You don’t have to think about the cross section of the wire cores, since the maximum current will not exceed 0.1 A.

When using 12 V halogen lamps in ceiling lights, the wire cross section must be calculated. One such light bulb with a power of 60 W consumes a current of 5 A. And if ten light bulbs are needed for lighting, then the current consumption will be 50 A.

Selection and installation of a recessed spot ceiling lamp

The range of recessed ceiling lights in any lighting store is huge, but they are all arranged in the same way and differ only in the type of body finish and additional decorations. In some models of recessed luminaires, it is possible to change the direction of the light flux within a small range.

Since I needed to illuminate the corridor, the choice fell on the simplest type of built-in lamp, which also included a base cartridge.

Any recessed ceiling lamp consists of a body, which is a figured profile ring with platforms for attaching two springs with ears. Depending on the type and power of the light bulbs, the body of the lamps is of different diameters and they may be absent, as in the lamp in the photo above, or an electric cartridge is installed, usually E14.

A special place is occupied by LED ceiling spotlights, in which the LEDs are installed directly in the housing on the printed circuit board.

The light bulb in such a lamp can no longer be replaced, and in the event of its failure, you will have to change the entire lamp or look for replacement LEDs. These lamps are expensive.

For lamps without cartridges, a spring in the form of a cut ring serves to fix the light bulb in the housing.

The light bulb is inserted into the body of the lamp and is fixed due to the fact that the spring ring, expanding, enters a specially made groove in the body. This lamp is suitable for installation of both halogen and LED bulbs. In the case of replacing halogen bulbs with LEDs or vice versa, you need to remember to check what voltage they are rated for.

To fix the ceiling spotlight, in a suspended ceiling, regardless of its type, a hole is cut out in a given place on the ceiling, slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the lamp housing flange.

The ears of the springs are brought together by hand to such an extent that they pass into the hole in the ceiling. The ears are inserted into the hole in the ceiling and released. Leaning on the inner surface of the suspended ceiling, the ears draw the luminaire all the way with the flange into the lower surface of the suspended ceiling and thus fix the luminaire.

Such a simple mounting design of the ceiling lamp allows you to hide the elements of its fastening and easily remove the lamp if necessary. It is enough to take hold of the base of the lamp and pull it down.

After installing the luminaire body on a false ceiling, a wire is threaded through it and connected to the cartridge using a terminal block. The cartridge is put on the base of the light bulb, the light bulb is inserted into the lamp body and fixed with an expanding spring.

Wiring diagram
for spot ceiling lights

Before starting the installation of a false ceiling, after choosing the type of light bulbs, calculating their power, the number of fixtures and their installation points, a wiring diagram is developed. When developing an electrical circuit, it is necessary to take into account the points and methods of connecting the wires to each other and to the fixtures.

Since the wires to which the wall lamp was previously connected were already coming out of the wall, it was decided to connect ceiling lamps to these wires. It was planned to install a suspended PVC stretch ceiling, and the wires came out above the level of the stretch ceiling, and, therefore, there will be no access to the wire junctions after the ceiling is installed. Therefore, it was decided to make all wire connections in the most reliable way, by twisting followed by soldering with tin-lead solder. Solder points were marked on the electrical diagram.

When choosing a place for installing lamps and chandeliers in rooms where there is a TV or computer, one must not forget that the angle of incidence of the light beam is equal to the angle of reflection. Taking into account this rule, the luminaires must be installed in places that exclude their reflection on the monitor screen, therefore, to select the installation points for the luminaires, it is necessary to consider how the furniture will be arranged, where the TV or computer monitor will be installed.

When choosing light bulbs for a supply voltage of 220 V, installation of additional devices is not required. In the case of using lamps for a supply voltage of 12 V, it is necessary to provide a place for installing transformers or adapters, taking into account their overall dimensions and possible access to them for maintenance or repair.

Attention! Before connecting spot ceiling lights, to avoid electric shock, it is necessary to de-energize the wiring. To do this, turn off the corresponding circuit breaker in the switchboard and check the reliability of the disconnection using the phase indicator.

Installation of electrical wiring
for connecting spot ceiling lights

After purchasing the fixtures, determining the places for their installation, purchasing materials and equipment, you can proceed with the installation of electrical wiring.

Installation of electrical wiring for connecting fixtures can be performed at any stage of the repair of the premises, up to the installation of suspended ceilings. But when repairing the walls in the corridor, it turned out that the light from the existing lamp was not enough. Therefore, the installation of electrical wiring had to be done in the first place, and temporary cartridges with energy-saving light bulbs should be connected to the electrical wiring for lighting.

Before installing the wires, it is necessary to mark the installation locations of the fixtures on the ceiling (circled in the photo), and the points of attachment of the wires. Wires, to avoid sagging, depending on their rigidity, are fixed in increments of 40-50 cm.

To fix the wires on the ceiling and walls, there are special dowel-clamps (in the photo on the left) and nail clips (in the photo on the right) of different sizes. To fix the wire with a dowel-clamp on the wall, it is necessary to drill a hole, put the dowel-clip on the wire and hammer the dowel into the hole. To secure the wire with a nail clip, you need to press the wire against the wall with it and hammer in the nail. Suitable for mounting wires and cables on wood, plastic, plaster.

Nail clips hammered into the concrete plastered ceiling can fall out and remain lying on the PVC sheet. Therefore, this type of attachment was discarded. It turned out that there were no dowel clamps at hand, so I used a simple and reliable way to fix the wires on the wall, using a clamp made of vinyl chloride tube. A hole is drilled in the ceiling, a dowel is driven into it, a self-tapping screw is screwed into the dowel through the hole made in the clamp. Since the weight of the wire is negligible, any self-tapping screw and dowel of the smallest size will do.

Making a wiring harness
ceiling spotlights

Since the wiring for ceiling lights after installing the stretch ceiling will be inaccessible for maintenance and repair, all wire connections in the interceiling space must be made extremely securely. Typically, connections are made using terminal blocks, such as Wago. But the most reliable type of wire connection is soldering, and I used this method.

To minimize the amount of work at height below the ceiling, a harness was prefabricated, which will only be fixed to the ceiling and connected to household electrical wiring.

To determine the length of the harness wires and soldering points according to the previously made markings on the ceiling, the distances between the wires for connection and the installation locations of the fixtures were measured. The measurement results were immediately applied to the electrical circuit, which was also an electrical circuit.

The bundle was made of copper stranded wire with double insulation (the core was twisted with silk thread and covered with PVC). For convenience, the wires were twisted together in a pigtail.

After removing the insulation from the wires, they were tinned with solder. In the second compartment of the corridor, the wires had to branch out. Therefore, the wires were twisted in pairs and soldered. Please note that in order to increase the reliability of the insulation, the junctions of the wires were made with a shift relative to each other.

Before the connection, insulating tubes were put on the wires, which, after soldering, were shifted to the junctions. To prevent displacement of the insulating tubes, they were fixed on both sides with cambric tightly seated on the wires. Together with the displacement of the junctions, this insulation method guaranteed the reliability of the wiring. Insulation of wires could also be done using ordinary insulating tape. so as not to get confused on the cambric was marked.

A small section of the wire harness when bending the transverse beam passed below the level of the suspended ceiling. This section of electrical wiring was under plaster. For the reliability of the insulation, a polyvinyl chloride tube was additionally put on it.

After the harness was fixed to the ceiling, it was time to connect it to the apartment wiring. To do this, the length of the conductors of the double wire emerging from the wall was trimmed with a shift. Since the wire was old, its insulation became rough and, in order not to damage the wires, it was removed thermally using a soldering iron. The cores were stripped and tinned with solder, they were put on insulating tubes.

It remains to wind the ends of the bundle onto the cores of the network wire, solder with solder and put on insulating tubes. Thanks to the technology of shifting the places of the wire connections, the tubes are needed practically for human safety and aesthetics. Accidentally, the wires of the electrical wiring will not be able to connect to each other.

The junction is suspended with a clamp with a self-tapping screw to the ceiling. The wiring for the spotlights has been completed.

Temporary electrical cartridges in the places of future installation of spotlights are connected with the help of terminal blocks, the bulbs are screwed in and you can continue to repair.

Ceiling LED Light Installation
on PVC stretch ceiling

The above describes the technology for installing ceiling lights, including LED ones, on any false ceiling, rigid construction, such as plasterboard, slatted ceiling or Armstrong. In the case of installing a spot ceiling lamp on a stretch ceiling made of PVC or other plastic material, it is necessary to install an additional mount, otherwise the ceiling will sag under the weight of the fixtures.

For these purposes, special fittings are produced. The photo shows a universal platform (ramp) for mounting spotlights. The platform has the shape of a cone, the surface of which is steps.

To adjust the diameter of the mounting hole of the platform to a specific type of ceiling lamp, it is enough to cut off the extra steps from the cone with a sharp knife.

The platform is attached to the main ceiling with a steel perforated tape. A piece of tape of the required length is unwound from a roll and cut off with scissors for metal.

On the platform for fixing the tape with a self-tapping screw, two platforms with holes are provided. If there is no self-tapping screw of small length, then you can tighten the long one. Its protruding part must be removed with side cutters.

The fittings for spotlights are screwed to the ceiling with self-tapping screws, LED bulbs are connected for testing. Everything works, you need to remove the light bulbs and you can proceed with the installation of the stretch ceiling.

After the stretch ceiling is installed, proceed to the installation of fixtures. In order to prevent the PVC film from tearing and not getting very hot, before making a hole in it for the lamp, a special plastic heat-insulating ring is glued with special glue at the place of its installation.

The film is cut along the inner circumference of the ring with a sharp knife, the cartridge is removed and the platform is centered. The perforated tape is easily deformed, and the ceiling bends, so you can easily adjust the height and position of the platform in a horizontal plane.

Installing a ceiling lamp on a platform will ensure its reliable operation, eliminate sagging of the stretch ceiling and its damage due to excessive heating when using halogen bulbs.

In the photo you see the final result of the installation of spotlights in the stretch ceiling.

When I decided to make repairs in the hallway, one of the first questions that arose was the question of choosing the type of ceiling finish and which ceiling lights to install. Having many years of experience in operating a stretch ceiling in the bathroom and living room made of PVC, it did not take long to choose the type of ceiling. I decided to install a PVC stretch ceiling, due to its many advantages, compared to other types of ceiling finishes.

I had to think a little about ceiling lights. On the one hand, I wanted to install modern LED spotlights on the ceiling, and on the other hand, in the hallway, there was a homemade set of chandelier and wall lamps, made by hand. I liked them, and I didn’t want to part with either the chandelier or the sconce.

In the end, a compromise solution was found, leaving the chandelier and sconces at the entrance to the hallway to hang in their original places, and in the hallway of the hallway, where a single-lamp lamp hung on the wall, install spotlights built into the stretch ceiling.

Before installing a stretch ceiling, it is necessary to lay electrical wiring, and in order to lay wires, it is necessary to develop an electrical circuit based on the type and number of fixtures, the type of light bulbs and their power.

Selecting the type of bulb for a recessed ceiling light

Before purchasing a luminaire built into a false ceiling, it is necessary to select the type of light bulbs and determine the required number of them, providing sufficient illumination of the room. Currently, four types of lamps are used for installation in ceiling recessed lamps: incandescent, halogen, compact (they are also called energy-saving or fluorescent lamps) and LED. Each type of light bulb has its own advantages and disadvantages, in addition, it affects the minimum distance between the installation horizon of a suspended ceiling and a stationary one, which is a determining factor in rooms with low ceilings.

Using the table below, you can easily make the best choice of the type of bulbs for a false ceiling, based on your requirements and boundary conditions.

Table for selecting the type of bulbs for recessed ceiling luminaires
Technical specifications	Lamp type
	incandescent	Halogen	energy saving	LED
Minimum distance between main and suspended ceilings*, cm	10-12	5-6	10-12	5-6
Supply voltage, V	220	12, 220	220	12, 220
Luminous flux*, Lm/W	10-15	15-20	50-70	80-120
Maximum power*, W	40	40	40	7
Color temperature, °K	2700	3000	2700, 3300, 4200, 5100, 6400	2700, 3300, 4200, 5100
Service life*, hour	1000	4000	8000	70000
Price	Very low	Low	Medium	High

Technical parameters marked with * may vary up or down depending on the design of the luminaire and light bulb, light bulb power, manufacturer, type of suspended ceiling. For example, PVC stretch ceilings are afraid of heating more than 60 ° C, and this limits the permissible power of light bulbs in recessed fixtures.

It should be noted that halogen lamps designed for a supply voltage of 12 V and 220 V are very sensitive to excess supply voltage and often burn out from this. For 12 V halogen lamps, a step-down transformer or power supply (adapter) is required, for which you must not forget, if you install a false ceiling without access to the interceiling space, provide a special place on the wall.

You can get more detailed information about incandescent and halogen, energy-saving, LED lamps by visiting the pages of the site dedicated to them.

Calculation of power and number of fixtures

The power of the lamps depends on the size of the room (area, height and shape), the color of the walls and furniture, the purpose of the room and the preferences of the owner. Someone likes bright light, and someone likes warm, diffused light of low brightness.

An accurate calculation of the power and number of fixtures, taking into account all factors, is almost impossible to perform. For an estimated calculation, you can use the illumination data presented in the table, thanks to which, taking into account the luminous flux, depending on the type of light bulb, you can determine how much and what power you need to install lamps in the room, depending on its type.

Table for calculating the power and number of fixtures depending on the type of room
Room type	The power required to illuminate 1m 2 of the area of ​​​​the room depending on lamp type
	incandescent	Halogen	energy saving	LED
Children's	40	30	10	5
Kitchen	30	25	7	4
Living room, bathroom, toilet	25	20	6	3
Bedroom, hallway, corridor	20	15	5	2
Utility rooms	10	7	2	1

Consider an example of a calculation that I did for the hallway corridor. It was planned to install LED ceiling spotlights. The shape of the corridor is the letter T with plot areas of 2.8 m 2 and 4.5 m 2 . The total area of ​​the corridor was 7.3 m 2 . Let's calculate the required power of the fixtures 7.3 × 2 = 15.6 W. Since the ceiling height was 2.75 m and the walls were planned to be painted in creme brulee color, taking into account the complex shape of the corridor, the best solution would be to install four ceiling spotlights with LED lamps installed in them with a small margin, 5.5 W, supply voltage 220 V with GU5.3 pin base. The pin base for suspended ceilings is good in that it has small dimensions, which is important with a small inter-ceiling space in height.

On the walls in the corridor before the renovation, there were pictures of artists, which were planned to be left in their original places after the renovation was completed. Therefore, for undistorted color reproduction, white light LED lamps with a color temperature of 4000 K were chosen. If you need a warm light, then you should choose a lamp with a color temperature of 2700 K.

It should be noted that it is not always advisable to use recessed ceiling lights in rooms as the only source of illumination. A much better result can be obtained by using additional wall lamps or table lamps in the work or leisure area. In this case, the power of the lamps in the ceiling lights can be reduced.

In the presence of local lighting fixtures, it is quite possible to completely abandon the fixtures built into the suspended ceiling, replacing them with LED strip lighting for the ceiling. So, when solving the issue of lighting the premises of the apartment, there is where to unfold creative imagination.

The choice of wire for wiring spotlights

For laying the power wiring of the four selected lamps with a total power of 22 W, any double-insulated electrical wire designed for laying electrical wiring is suitable. A copper stranded double connecting wire is best suited, for example, type PVA 2 × 0.75. You don’t have to think about the cross section of the wire cores, since the maximum current will not exceed 0.1 A.

When using 12 V halogen lamps in ceiling lights, the wire cross section must be calculated. One such light bulb with a power of 60 W consumes a current of 5 A. And if ten light bulbs are needed for lighting, then the current consumption will be 50 A.

Selection and installation of a recessed spot ceiling lamp

The range of recessed ceiling lights in any lighting store is huge, but they are all arranged in the same way and differ only in the type of body finish and additional decorations. In some models of recessed luminaires, it is possible to change the direction of the light flux within a small range.

Since I needed to illuminate the corridor, the choice fell on the simplest type of built-in lamp, which also included a base cartridge.

Any recessed ceiling lamp consists of a body, which is a figured profile ring with platforms for attaching two springs with ears. Depending on the type and power of the light bulbs, the body of the lamps is of different diameters and they may be absent, as in the lamp in the photo above, or an electric cartridge is installed, usually E14.

A special place is occupied by LED ceiling spotlights, in which the LEDs are installed directly in the housing on the printed circuit board.

The light bulb in such a lamp can no longer be replaced, and in the event of its failure, you will have to change the entire lamp or look for replacement LEDs. These lamps are expensive.

For lamps without cartridges, a spring in the form of a cut ring serves to fix the light bulb in the housing.

The light bulb is inserted into the body of the lamp and is fixed due to the fact that the spring ring, expanding, enters a specially made groove in the body. This lamp is suitable for installation of both halogen and LED bulbs. In the case of replacing halogen bulbs with LEDs or vice versa, you need to remember to check what voltage they are rated for.

To fix the ceiling spotlight, in a suspended ceiling, regardless of its type, a hole is cut out in a given place on the ceiling, slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the lamp housing flange.

The ears of the springs are brought together by hand to such an extent that they pass into the hole in the ceiling. The ears are inserted into the hole in the ceiling and released. Leaning on the inner surface of the suspended ceiling, the ears draw the luminaire all the way with the flange into the lower surface of the suspended ceiling and thus fix the luminaire.

Such a simple mounting design of the ceiling lamp allows you to hide the elements of its fastening and easily remove the lamp if necessary. It is enough to take hold of the base of the lamp and pull it down.

After installing the luminaire body on a false ceiling, a wire is threaded through it and connected to the cartridge using a terminal block. The cartridge is put on the base of the light bulb, the light bulb is inserted into the lamp body and fixed with an expanding spring.

Wiring diagram
for spot ceiling lights

Before starting the installation of a false ceiling, after choosing the type of light bulbs, calculating their power, the number of fixtures and their installation points, a wiring diagram is developed. When developing an electrical circuit, it is necessary to take into account the points and methods of connecting the wires to each other and to the fixtures.

Since the wires to which the wall lamp was previously connected were already coming out of the wall, it was decided to connect ceiling lamps to these wires. It was planned to install a suspended PVC stretch ceiling, and the wires came out above the level of the stretch ceiling, and, therefore, there will be no access to the wire junctions after the ceiling is installed. Therefore, it was decided to make all wire connections in the most reliable way, by twisting followed by soldering with tin-lead solder. Solder points were marked on the electrical diagram.

When choosing a place for installing lamps and chandeliers in rooms where there is a TV or computer, one must not forget that the angle of incidence of the light beam is equal to the angle of reflection. Taking into account this rule, the luminaires must be installed in places that exclude their reflection on the monitor screen, therefore, to select the installation points for the luminaires, it is necessary to consider how the furniture will be arranged, where the TV or computer monitor will be installed.

When choosing light bulbs for a supply voltage of 220 V, installation of additional devices is not required. In the case of using lamps for a supply voltage of 12 V, it is necessary to provide a place for installing transformers or adapters, taking into account their overall dimensions and possible access to them for maintenance or repair.

Attention! Before connecting spot ceiling lights, to avoid electric shock, it is necessary to de-energize the wiring. To do this, turn off the corresponding circuit breaker in the switchboard and check the reliability of the disconnection using the phase indicator.

Installation of electrical wiring
for connecting spot ceiling lights

After purchasing the fixtures, determining the places for their installation, purchasing materials and equipment, you can proceed with the installation of electrical wiring.

Installation of electrical wiring for connecting fixtures can be performed at any stage of the repair of the premises, up to the installation of suspended ceilings. But when repairing the walls in the corridor, it turned out that the light from the existing lamp was not enough. Therefore, the installation of electrical wiring had to be done in the first place, and temporary cartridges with energy-saving light bulbs should be connected to the electrical wiring for lighting.

Before installing the wires, it is necessary to mark the installation locations of the fixtures on the ceiling (circled in the photo), and the points of attachment of the wires. Wires, to avoid sagging, depending on their rigidity, are fixed in increments of 40-50 cm.

To fix the wires on the ceiling and walls, there are special dowel-clamps (in the photo on the left) and nail clips (in the photo on the right) of different sizes. To fix the wire with a dowel-clamp on the wall, it is necessary to drill a hole, put the dowel-clip on the wire and hammer the dowel into the hole. To secure the wire with a nail clip, you need to press the wire against the wall with it and hammer in the nail. Suitable for mounting wires and cables on wood, plastic, plaster.

Nail clips hammered into the concrete plastered ceiling can fall out and remain lying on the PVC sheet. Therefore, this type of attachment was discarded. It turned out that there were no dowel clamps at hand, so I used a simple and reliable way to fix the wires on the wall, using a clamp made of vinyl chloride tube. A hole is drilled in the ceiling, a dowel is driven into it, a self-tapping screw is screwed into the dowel through the hole made in the clamp. Since the weight of the wire is negligible, any self-tapping screw and dowel of the smallest size will do.

Making a wiring harness
ceiling spotlights

Since the wiring for ceiling lights after installing the stretch ceiling will be inaccessible for maintenance and repair, all wire connections in the interceiling space must be made extremely securely. Typically, connections are made using terminal blocks, such as Wago. But the most reliable type of wire connection is soldering, and I used this method.

To minimize the amount of work at height below the ceiling, a harness was prefabricated, which will only be fixed to the ceiling and connected to household electrical wiring.

To determine the length of the harness wires and soldering points according to the previously made markings on the ceiling, the distances between the wires for connection and the installation locations of the fixtures were measured. The measurement results were immediately applied to the electrical circuit, which was also an electrical circuit.

The bundle was made of copper stranded wire with double insulation (the core was twisted with silk thread and covered with PVC). For convenience, the wires were twisted together in a pigtail.

After removing the insulation from the wires, they were tinned with solder. In the second compartment of the corridor, the wires had to branch out. Therefore, the wires were twisted in pairs and soldered. Please note that in order to increase the reliability of the insulation, the junctions of the wires were made with a shift relative to each other.

Before the connection, insulating tubes were put on the wires, which, after soldering, were shifted to the junctions. To prevent displacement of the insulating tubes, they were fixed on both sides with cambric tightly seated on the wires. Together with the displacement of the junctions, this insulation method guaranteed the reliability of the wiring. Insulation of wires could also be done using ordinary insulating tape. so as not to get confused on the cambric was marked.

A small section of the wire harness when bending the transverse beam passed below the level of the suspended ceiling. This section of electrical wiring was under plaster. For the reliability of the insulation, a polyvinyl chloride tube was additionally put on it.

After the harness was fixed to the ceiling, it was time to connect it to the apartment wiring. To do this, the length of the conductors of the double wire emerging from the wall was trimmed with a shift. Since the wire was old, its insulation became rough and, in order not to damage the wires, it was removed thermally using a soldering iron. The cores were stripped and tinned with solder, they were put on insulating tubes.

It remains to wind the ends of the bundle onto the cores of the network wire, solder with solder and put on insulating tubes. Thanks to the technology of shifting the places of the wire connections, the tubes are needed practically for human safety and aesthetics. Accidentally, the wires of the electrical wiring will not be able to connect to each other.

The junction is suspended with a clamp with a self-tapping screw to the ceiling. The wiring for the spotlights has been completed.

Temporary electrical cartridges in the places of future installation of spotlights are connected with the help of terminal blocks, the bulbs are screwed in and you can continue to repair.

Ceiling LED Light Installation
on PVC stretch ceiling

The above describes the technology for installing ceiling lights, including LED ones, on any false ceiling, rigid construction, such as plasterboard, slatted ceiling or Armstrong. In the case of installing a spot ceiling lamp on a stretch ceiling made of PVC or other plastic material, it is necessary to install an additional mount, otherwise the ceiling will sag under the weight of the fixtures.

For these purposes, special fittings are produced. The photo shows a universal platform (ramp) for mounting spotlights. The platform has the shape of a cone, the surface of which is steps.

To adjust the diameter of the mounting hole of the platform to a specific type of ceiling lamp, it is enough to cut off the extra steps from the cone with a sharp knife.

The platform is attached to the main ceiling with a steel perforated tape. A piece of tape of the required length is unwound from a roll and cut off with scissors for metal.

On the platform for fixing the tape with a self-tapping screw, two platforms with holes are provided. If there is no self-tapping screw of small length, then you can tighten the long one. Its protruding part must be removed with side cutters.

The fittings for spotlights are screwed to the ceiling with self-tapping screws, LED bulbs are connected for testing. Everything works, you need to remove the light bulbs and you can proceed with the installation of the stretch ceiling.

After the stretch ceiling is installed, proceed to the installation of fixtures. In order to prevent the PVC film from tearing and not getting very hot, before making a hole in it for the lamp, a special plastic heat-insulating ring is glued with special glue at the place of its installation.

The film is cut along the inner circumference of the ring with a sharp knife, the cartridge is removed and the platform is centered. The perforated tape is easily deformed, and the ceiling bends, so you can easily adjust the height and position of the platform in a horizontal plane.

Installing a ceiling lamp on a platform will ensure its reliable operation, eliminate sagging of the stretch ceiling and its damage due to excessive heating when using halogen bulbs.

In the photo you see the final result of the installation of spotlights in the stretch ceiling.

Modern design often involves the presence of which is not difficult, but requires certain knowledge. Such devices are more often used as auxiliary elements that highlight certain zones, but if necessary, they can act as the main sources. LED technology is one of the most promising areas of artificial lighting, so it is worth paying attention to.

Why did appliances become popular in such a short time?

Recently, traditional incandescent lamps are gradually losing demand. In modern premises, LED lamps are increasingly being installed, which have many important advantages over conventional counterparts. They are listed below:

• economical use of electrical energy;
• the possibility of obtaining special spectral characteristics without any light filters;
• compact dimensions that allow you to successfully place devices in the interior;
• lack of inertia during the operation of the circuit breaker;
• high level of safety during operation;
• providing directional radiation without a reflector.

Some consumers will be deterred only by the cost of devices. Unlike the prices for traditional appliances, it is higher, but in the process of long-term operation, it is possible to save money.

Tools and fixtures for work

During installation, the following tools and auxiliary elements are used:

• tape measure at least 5 m long;
• ladder for climbing to a height;
• wire cutters;
• drill with a nozzle for making holes;
• insulating tape;
• junction box;
• stationery knife;
• power supply (when using low-voltage devices);
• switch.

Marking and laying cables

The distribution of wiring begins immediately after the acquisition of all elements of the system that were reflected in the estimate. Installation of LED lamps requires competent thinking over the cable layout. After its preparation, the markings are applied directly to the ceiling.

First, the place where the new electrical circuit will be connected is determined. The junction box is installed here. When using low-voltage devices, a power supply unit is purchased separately, the power of which must correspond to the total indicators of all devices.

When installing a suspended structure, the wires are distributed only after the assembly of the metal frame. For protection against electric shock and possible replacement, the cables are best placed in a corrugated pipe made of plastic or metal. The material is selected taking into account the level of flammability of the supporting elements.

Making holes

When installing overhead LED luminaires, there are no special requirements for openings, but they must be located at the location of the frame jumpers in order to be able to attach them. Built-in appliances can be located between the supporting structural elements.

A tape measure is used to accurately determine the installation location. If necessary, you can attach a sheet of finishing material, marking with a pencil the areas with the location of the lighting devices. A hole in drywall or plastic is cut with a special nozzle or a clerical knife.

Connection and installation

When the openings for the devices are ready, it is necessary to expose the wires protruding from them. One core is connected to the corresponding terminal of the lighting device, and the other is twisted directly with the power cable. The joints must be wrapped with insulating tape. To simplify the work, most models are equipped with markings.

When installing recessed LED luminaires, the brackets located at the edges should be pressed against the ceiling. After tensioning them, inserting the device into the hole made is not difficult. They must securely hold the device inside throughout the entire period of operation.

When installing overhead products, a connection is made to the main cables, after which the lower part is screwed through the facing material directly to the crate. After the fixation is completed, the internal cavity is closed with a special cover.

Before installing LED lamps, in any case, it is necessary to count the number of lighting elements in the room. With incorrect calculations, you can spoil the visual perception of the intended design. It is necessary to determine the role of devices in the interior and the required level of illumination.

The simplest method of calculations does not require knowledge of special formulas or features of complex calculations. It is based on the optimal level of illumination directly for a square meter. Usually, 20 W of traditional incandescent lamps is enough for these purposes.

Product location rules

It is necessary to deal with the layout of lighting fixtures in compliance with certain recommendations, otherwise it will not be possible to achieve the maximum effect. The rules for installing LED lamps are as follows:

1. The optimal distance between adjacent lighting elements can be considered an indent from 100 to 150 cm. As for the minimum allowable gap, it should be 300 mm.
2. The devices must not be installed in the immediate vicinity of a wall. It is necessary to retreat from the side surface of at least 20 cm. It is also not recommended to mount the devices in the corners of the room.
3. There are the most successful layouts for LED devices. The first of them consists in the arrangement of elements along the perimeter, and the second - in a checkerboard pattern.

In conclusion about the cost of installation work

The final price of installing LED lamps may depend on many factors, but in standard situations, you can start from the data presented in a simple table. It shows the cost of the work being done.

The table below gives a rough idea of ​​how much you can save by connecting LED lights yourself.

If you need the installation of LED lamps, the price will be acceptable when contacting Yuda. Experts with extensive experience will perform the installation of lamps of any complexity.

Specialists offer installation of diode lighting fixtures of all types:

• ceiling
• overhead
• suspended

Installation services can be ordered in any district of Moscow. When performing work, the masters use their own specialized equipment and tools.

Features of installing diode lamps in the interceiling space

To install LED lamps, a specialist needs to have practical experience and knowledge. Only a qualified master will be able to perform high-quality installation of lighting fixtures.

For the installation of diode lamps, a conventional electrical cable is used: Yudu masters lay the wiring according to a previously approved scheme, and then bring out the points to which the chandelier and lamps are connected. In false ceilings, the electrical installation of fixtures is carried out from the inside - only the lighting fixture (chandelier, sconce, lamp) remains outside.

Designing the layout of fixtures in the room is an important point on which the quality of lighting will depend. For ceiling light supply systems, craftsmen use diode tapes that give uniform diffused light. In office premises, the installation of lighting fixtures can be done pointwise, above each work area. Ceiling lighting systems are combined with overhead wall lighting fixtures. This will allow you to save the intended interior design.

In whatever room the installation of diode lamps is carried out, the terminal blocks must be insulated to prevent fire when the wiring is closed. Private craftsmen Yuda make insulation using modern consumables.

How much does the wiring of overhead and pendant diode lamps cost?

The cost of installing the LED lamp, performed by Yudu performers, is low. The price of electrician services depends on:

• number of connection points for lighting fixtures
• location of lighting devices (on the ceiling, wall, mounted in the floor, arch, furniture, etc.)
• the need to develop a project
• complexity of the diode lighting system
• the amount of consumable used (for insulation, connecting wire, etc.)
• urgency of the order

If you need an inexpensive installation of LED lamps, the price will be acceptable when ordering at Yuda. In the price list you can find indicative prices for electrical installation services. And the final cost of the work of the master will be known only after clarifying all the details of the order.

Benefits of Yudu performers:

• affordable prices for electrical work (the cost of installing lighting diode devices can be negotiated individually)
• execution of orders of varying complexity
• installation of lighting fixtures in any room (residential, office, retail, warehouse)
• departure to any address in Moscow 7 days a week, including holidays
• high quality of services

To place an order for the installation of diode lighting fixtures in Moscow, publish an application on the Yuda website. Specify in the assignment:

• in which premises the work will be carried out (apartment, office, retail or warehouse buildings)
• Is there electrical wiring in the building?
• how many lamp connection points (chandeliers) are needed
• the place where you need to install the lamps (ceiling, walls, floor, arch, etc.)

In diode lamps, the incandescent temperature is minimal, so they can be mounted anywhere (both for basic lighting and for decorative lighting).

Yudu contractors interested in ordering will send you offers with a full list of works on the installation of lighting fixtures, as well as the cost of services. If you need the installation of LED lamps, the price will be lower than the market price when ordering services on the Yudu website.